Ng'arua Maarifa Centre was established by ALIN, to be used by the rural communities to access; free internet, E-government services, multimedia content, online market information, publications and library, advisory services and ICT trainings.

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Monday, July 14, 2014

Pomp and color as information sharing kibanda is Launched

By Samuel NziokaThere was
joy and celebrations at an open day held at Ng’arua Maarifa Centre, located at
Sipili Sub-County office on July 12, 2014. The event which was graced by among
others Laikipia County representatives, Mr. Godfrey Ndonye and Mr. Njuguna who represented the guest of honor,
the county Commissioner Mr. Wilfred Kinyua also marked the official launch of the Sustainable
Land and Natural Resources Management Centre dubbed ‘Mazingira Knowledge Centre’

Other
partners present were, The international Small Group & Tree planting
Program (TIST), East Africa Grain Council (EAGC), Community Forest association,
Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society (LP&MC), Laikipia Centre
for Knowledge and Information (LACKIN), Pure Sacco, Laikipia central community Development (LAICCODO) and Juhudi Kilimo among
others.

Participants visiting LAICCODO stand

The open day
aimed to create an effective knowledge sharing platform to build communities’
capacity for effective stewardship of Sustainable Land Management (SLM)
practices and enhanced resilience in Laikipia County. The event provided an opportunity
for community members to share knowledge on various technologies and innovations
on climate change mitigation and adaptation among other services and products
which were on display during the event.

Information materials
were also archived and pinned at the knowledge sharing Kibanda for
communities to learn new technologies and ways of reducing environmental degradation.

Some of the
innovations and technologies that were on display during the open day included;
energy saving cooking stoves, castor oil cooking stove, Solar lanterns, soap and
candles made locally from bee wax, information materials on use of biogas and
other bio fuels, water harvesting technologies and forest conservation
strategies.

Speaking during
the event, Mr. Ndonye urged participants to be good ambassadors and share with
fellow neighbors and other community members what they had learned from the
event. He also noted that, he has learned a lot from the event especially the
use of castor oil as biofuel for cooking and keeping away mosquitoes and flies
from the houses.

Participants
also learned of different climate change adaptation strategies from farmers who
displayed their fresh fruits like Mangoes, pineapples, passion, Tree tomatoes
and thorn melons while others had value added products like dried cassava, rosemary
and vegetables.

Mr Kiarahu explaining value addition technologies to farmers

Mr. Francis Kiarahu,
a farmer who has participated in several events both locally and internationally
explained to farmers how it’s important to diversify their farming during this
time when the weather changes are unpredictable. He explained how he doesn’t depend
on maize and beans as many farmers do.

“I don’t depend
on one crop during my farming. My farm has fruit trees, cassava, pineapples,
tree tomato, oranges, indigenous vegetables, and the rest portion has maize and
beans. During this dry season, my family is comfortable since there is a lot of
cassava in my farm. I’m also earning from my fruit trees.” Said Mr. Kiarahu.

Farmers also
got an opportunity to learn more about SOKO+ and Farm Record Management
Information System (FARMIS), where queries on the same were addressed. Those who had not subscribed for the services
were also registered.

Participants visiting FARMIS stand

SOKO+ is a
digital commodity trading and information system linking small scale farmers to
end retailers. It also provides commodity prices from major markets and e-extension
services.

FARMIS is a farm management and diagnostic tool
based on the use of farm records. It was developed for use by diverse
stakeholders in the agriculture sector aimed at identifying productivity
trends, profitability of different farm enterprises and producing evidence for
use in decision making at the farm.

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